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Ventures guitarist Nokie Edwards, Cherokee, is reaching out to music lovers in a time of need.

Edwards experienced two heart attacks while on tour with the Ventures in Japan in the fall, and his recovery, in hospitals in Sendai and Tokyo, necessitated the insertion of a pacemaker and three stents.

A member of both the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame and the Native American Music Association Hall of Fame, Edwards is now back home in Oregon, and with his wife Judy he is trying to raise money to cover his hospital bills. They're soliciting donations using GoFundMe.com, and as of this writing they have raised $13,000 of their $125,000 goal.

Judy Edwards is posting updates on Nokie's condition to his official site, NokieEdwards.com. The latest, from yesterday, reads in part:

Nokie has seen his GP last week and his heart doctor this week. He is moving forward with his recovery... Which we all know what a strong man he is. Nokie has his pacemaker check on the 14th of this month and his heart ultrasound and echo on the 19th. I am sure he will pass with flying colors.

You will all be happy to know he has picked his guitar up twice this week and is now on a schedule daily playing guitar except when we are away from home. Also, he has been working out riding a stationary bicycle twice a day and getting good exercise. Now if I can figure out how to get him to play the guitar and ride the exercise bicycle at the same time, I may be able to get a video of it. Taping his TV remote control to the handlebar of the bicycle may have had a little something to do with getting him to ride the exercise bike. Ha! Ha! Ha!

Still listen to The Ventures music. I coaxed a surprising number of Ventures songs off of 33 RPMs I bought back in the 1960s & put them on CD & my PC. Which ones? Night Stick, Hawaii Five-0, The House of the Rising Sun, Driving Guitars & about 70 others. I always listen to them. Remarkable sounds. Hey, Nokie stay cool, get well, because you are a marvelous musician. My name is Clarence & I am 69 years old now.

HI NOKIE, Just another big fan of yours for 50 years who caused me to study guitar and play 20 years for a living. Hope you get back picking soon and maybe put out a solo album=sorry-CD. You and Chet are IT. Period. Mike Brown-ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GA.

i have been following nokie all my life buying records tapes and anything i can get,even bought the same model guitars that he played.fenders,mosrites etc.i believe he is a national treasure he has kept many a young player like when i was once.. off the streets.. it took hours to figure out his licks i would say he has influenced players all over the world by the thousands,i call that amazing.r.j.romano

My name is Orlando Arcos, I am Ecuadorian, and I have listened to
The Ventures, since I lived in LA in 1966. I´m sorry to hear that Nokie has been ill, but I´m really happy to know he is better, Nokie, God bless you always, I wish you the best. My Email is:torresboanerges@yahoo.com

Hey Nokie, still love the Hitchhiker you sold me. Good luck with the heart..I've been there, done that. Eat healthy, exercise when you can, above all keep a
positive attitude. Too much guitar playing ahead. I still listen and play along with your recordings. (some of them) on a weekly basis. Take care friend, Ed

i was honored to play music with you in yuma in 2012, sleepwalk was one of my first songs on guitar..you are a special talent and special to the music industry..take care and keep playing that guitar..we played take me home country roads a few times...thanks...

Have been a fan of yours since the early 60's . Do not understand why you are seeking donations to pay your hospital bills! You are one of the most successful guitarists ever and played for years with the best and most popular guitar bands- The Ventures- on the planet. Millions of dollars have been made. You cannot be broke...nuff said!

You should be ashamed of yourself asking for money..all the money through the years you have made I think this has not helped your public image cashing in on your fans help is so out of order and you should reflect on the damage you have done to not only yourself but the question where has all the money gone!!..a disgrace...time you quit churning out the same old rubbish!!